Developing hit mobile games require an understanding of the market, competitors and the target audience. Furthermore, to maximize the chance of success there is a need to research the genre deeply. This entails a thorough mapping of current rivals, their performance, and feature set. However, with so many archetypes, hybrids, and constant innovation, it is a challenge to get a comprehensive view of the competition or even define what genre a game represents. Hence, there is a need to categorize games in a meaningful and consistent manner.
Consequently, a flexible three-layered model was chosen for building a taxonomy for mobile games. At the outset, it was decided that the new taxonomy should exhibit flexibility, as there were dozens of game archetypes. Furthermore, with new ones popping up, a static approach would become obsolete quickly. To keep things dynamic, a three-layered hierarchy was chosen, as it would facilitate the addition of new genres.
Here is how the three-layered model works. Each game is given a Subgenre based on its features and defining game mechanics. The Subgenre is assigned automatically to a Genre, which in turn is assigned to a higher-level Category. Consequently, each game belongs to only one–Category, Genre and Subgenre. This singularity provides a solid basis for using genres for market research as it simplifies genre feasibility measurement and comparison.
Furthermore, the three-layered approach has enabled grouping of games under distinctive genres, which in turn acts as an extremely helpful taxonomy for market and game research. At the Genre level, specific game archetypes receive groups of their own, thereby creating more meaningful differentiation. Additionally, the Genres cover the current mobile game archetypes and offer a better understanding of which genres are gaining or losing ground in any given market.
The Subgenre level opens up a comprehensive view of the current mobile gaming space in all its diversity and enables a detailed comparison. This helps in drilling down to the closest competitors, researching a game’s market opportunities and researching games as a separate game type and market.
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